Custom packaging solution for arbitrary objects

The present application relates to a packaging system, in particular to a method of custom packaging any article.

The packaging method of goods has revitalized the manufacturing-related industry. Mass-produced goods are produced in combination with custom packaging designs for mass delivery.

<p> However, there is a need for a method for small-scale tailor-made packaging for individual users. Some conventional techniques allow the user to select his or her own packaging and put individual items in that packaging. Two examples of such prior art are US Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0112460 (Application No. 11 / 590,365) and US Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0035138 (Application No. 10 / 217,275). ).</p><p> U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0112460 facilitates individual packaging, which consists of allowing the user to select packaging templates that belong to a predetermined group or providing one template to the user. The method and system for doing so are disclosed. However, the determination of this packaging template is made before the user enters information about the packaging. Further, an example of the packaging according to this application is to print an image and information of individual specifications on the packaging selected in advance by the user in relation to the packaging.</p><p> U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0035138 discloses a method of packaging and printing individualized packaging using the Internet, in which the user uses the Internet to select, design, and design the packaging. Can manage shipments and payments. The user can once again select the packaging design used for the desired article. The user needs to enter information mechanically in order to determine the appropriate packaging from the options presented there.</p><p> There are unrecognized problems in the prior art. Goods are often separated from the packaging and packing materials upon arrival after a period of use. Subsequent packaging and packing materials may be required to store or deliver the goods. With the current method, the user can only select the closest packaging box of available size and select the packing material as needed.</p>

<p> Prior to describing the systems of the invention, the devices of the invention and the methods of the invention, the disclosure herein is not limited to the particular systems, devices and methods described, which may be modified. You should understand that. In addition, the terms used in the explanation are intended to explain only a specific aspect or embodiment, and are not intended to limit the scope.</p><p> As used herein, the word "includes" means "includes, but is not limited to."</p><p> In one embodiment, the method of generating a personalized package is to receive a first image of the article to be packaged and information about the material properties of the article via an electronic user interface, and three dimensions of the article. A step of determining the appropriate size, a step of automatically selecting at least one package for the article, and a step of automatically determining the type of packing material based on the information on the material properties. A step of automatically determining the amount of packing material based on the three-dimensional size of the article and the selected packaging can be included.</p><p> Optionally, the method can include receiving delivery information via a user interface and printing the delivery information on selected packaging. In addition, the first image may include a background with multiple reference points showing known dimensions. Further, this method can include a step of comparing the article with the background to obtain a three-dimensional size by image processing. In addition, this method provides the step of automatically selecting a package by obtaining available inventory information about the size of the package and said that the required three-dimensional size of the article is available. A step of comparing with the inventory information and a step of selecting a package having a size larger than the size of the article but the closest size from the inventory information can be included. Further, this method can include a plurality of reference points in a grid of predetermined coordinates. Alternatively, the method may include multiple reference points with a scale on the scale.</p><p> The method according to the invention may also include the step of printing the first image on the selected packaging.</p><p> Optionally, the method can include one or more material properties that indicate the vulnerability of the article, including the step of automatically determining the type of pack material based on the material properties. be able to. In addition, the one or more material properties may include information about the weight of the article, so the method is such that the packaging is automatically selected based on the weight and the size sought. May be good.</p><p> Alternatively, the method according to the invention can further include the step of receiving a second image of the article via the user interface. The first image and the second image can show the article from different viewpoints. The first image can include a background with multiple reference points showing known dimensions. The second image can include a background with multiple reference points showing known dimensions. The method can then include the step of determining the three-dimensional size using image processing and comparing the article with the first and second backgrounds.</p><p> Optionally, the method according to the invention involves a step of displaying the design of the selected packaging, a step of receiving the user's approval for the design, and a determined type and amount of packing material in order to obtain the user's approval. It may further include providing the user with a step and providing the selected packaging to the user. Alternatively, this method is based on a step of displaying the design of the selected packaging for user approval, a step of receiving a user modification to the design via the user interface, and a modification by the user. A step of selecting a later packaging, a step of automatically determining whether or not to modify the type and amount of the determined packing material based on the modified packaging size, and the modified packaging. It can include steps to be provided to the user. Alternatively, the method according to the present invention includes a step of displaying a plurality of candidate packaging designs and a step of receiving a design selected by the user from the candidate packaging designs in order to obtain the user's approval. May include a step of providing a package of the design of choice and a step of providing a determined size and amount of packaging material.</p><p> In one embodiment, the method of providing tailor-made packaging is via a user interface, with the step of displaying multiple candidate packaging designs on an electronic user interface for user approval. A user-selected design, delivery information, a first image of the packaged article, and a step of receiving information about the material properties of the article, a step of determining the three-dimensional size of the article, and a user-selected step. The step of automatically selecting at least one package for the article, which contains design and delivery information, and the step of automatically determining the type of packing material according to the information on the material properties, and the above. A step of automatically determining the amount of packing material based on the three-dimensional size of the object and the selected packaging can be included.</p><p> The features, properties, benefits and advantages of this application will be clarified by the detailed description below and the accompanying drawings.</p>

<figref num="1">FIG. 5 is a flow chart for a typical method of generating a personalized packaging system for any article.</figref>

<figref num="2">The method of FIG. 1 further characterized by displaying on an electronic user interface one or more designs selected in sequence by the user or with additional modifications to obtain user approval. It is a flow chart about. The packaging and packing materials can then be determined automatically according to this selection. The present embodiment also includes the steps of providing packaging and packing materials.</figref>

<figref num="3">Shown is an example of a received first image of a packaged article in which the first background is made to contain multiple reference points showing known dimensions.</figref>

<figref num="4">The first image shows an example in which a second image showing an article to be packaged from different perspectives is received on a second background containing a plurality of reference points showing known dimensions.</figref>

The present application relates to a method for a custom packaging system for any article. In an embodiment, FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram for an exemplary method of generating a custom packaging system for any article, in which various printing options are also available. As shown in FIG. 1, one or more images 101 and information 102 can be received from the user via an electronic user interface. As shown in FIG. 3, the first image of the article 301 to be packaged can be received with a first background 305 with multiple reference points showing known dimensions. Optionally, this reference point can be a point on a grid or other background, and this grid or other background is optionally available to the user from the system in the form of a download from a website. Can be. From this first image, the three-dimensional size of the article can be determined (step 103). After this determination 103 is made, the appropriate packaging for the article is automatically selected (step 104). In addition, other material properties of the article can be informed via an electronic user interface (step 102). From these material properties, the type of pack material for the article may be automatically determined (step 105). From the automatic selection of packaging (step 104) and the automatic determination of the type of packing material (step 105), the amount of packing material required for the selected packaging may be automatically determined (step 106). A package may then be prepared with a determined amount of packing material (step 107) and certain items may be printed on the package.

In one embodiment, delivery information can be received via an electronic user interface (step 102). When preparing the packaging with the packing material (step 107), delivery information may be printed on the packaging.

In another embodiment, when the first image is received (step 101) and then the packaging is prepared with the packing material (step 107), the first image may be printed on the packaging.

In another embodiment, the material properties may be received as information (step 102) and may include a description of whether the article is brittle or not. From this description, the type of pack material can be determined automatically (step 105). Alternatively, you may receive about the weight of the good (step 102). The appropriate packaging for the article can be automatically selected to reflect the weight of the article so that it can withstand the weight of the article (step 104).

In another embodiment, a second image of the article can be received via an electronic user interface (step 101). As shown in FIG. 4, this second image can be viewed from a different viewpoint than the first image. This second image may also include a background with multiple reference points showing known dimensions. The first and second images are then compared to determine the three-dimensional size of the article (step 103).

For another embodiment, FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram in which the feature of displaying one or more designs on an electronic user interface (step 201) is added to the method of FIG. 1 for user approval. The user is then approved via the interface (step 202) or additional modifications are approved (step 203). When the user selects from the presented design candidates and receives the user's selection (step 202), the process as shown in FIG. 1 may be continued. Finally, the packaging may be prepared with a determined size of packaging and a determined amount of packing material, with the characteristics of the user-selected design (step 206).

If a user receives a design modification via the interface (step 203), a modification of the packaging selection can be requested (step 204). At the end of the packaging selection phase, the packaging can be prepared with the packaging material (step 107) to provide the desired size and quantity of packaging material. If the selection is modified by the user, the automatic determination of packaging (step 204) and the automatic determination of packing material (step 205) are affected and modified. Finally, the packaging of the user-selected design is provided and prepared with the packing material (step 206).

In another embodiment, it may include a step of printing a particular image. Receive delivery information of the good (step 102) and receive a first image of the good (step 101) via an electronic user interface. Find the three-dimensional size of the article (step 103). When this size is required, the packaging for the goods is automatically selected (step 104). Information about the material properties of the article is also received via the interface (step 102). Upon receiving this material property information (step 102), the type of pack material can be determined automatically (step 105). When the packaging is automatically selected (step 104) and the type of packing material is automatically determined (step 105), the amount of packing material suitable for the selected packaging can be automatically determined (step 106). ..

Optionally, one or more designs displayed for user approval are presented to the user on the electronic user interface (step 201). Through the user interface, the user approves the design from these suggestions. Through the interface, the user's approval can be received (step 202), and when the packaging is properly prepared (step 107), the approval can be tied to the packaging and the packaging of the user's chosen design can be provided. (Step 206). The user may enter shipping information, goods details, instructions, and other pictorial or textual content for printing on the prepared packaging (step 206). You may also enter the first image of the received article in the packaging (step 206).

In another embodiment, a second image of the article can be received via the interface (step 101). As shown in FIG. 4, the second image 401 can be viewed from a different viewpoint than the first image. This second image also includes a background 405 with multiple reference points showing known dimensions. Next, the first image and the second image are compared to determine the three-dimensional size of the article (step 103).

In another embodiment, the user may receive a design modification (step 203), display the design to the user on the interface (step 201), and make the proposed design modification. The packaging selection may then be modified based on the modification of this design and the acquisition of the modification (step 203). As a result of continuing to carry out the process of Figure 1, the size and amount of packing material will be determined (step 106). The modified packaging selection (step 204) is combined with the presented determined size and quantity of packing material (step 106) to modify the automatic determination made for the packed material (step 205). The packaging of the user-selected design can then be provided (step 206).

It will be clear that the various disclosures, other properties and functions described above, or their alternatives, can be combined as desired into many different systems or applications. Various, now unpredictable or unpredictable alternatives, modifications, modifications and improvements thereof may be made by those skilled in the art, which will be incorporated by the disclosed embodiments. It will also be clear that it is intended to be done.